03.03.08
“If you Can’t Deny the Truth, Run a Smear Campaign” (Updated)
Headsup on smear campaigns
Without going into the specifics of it (because I was once advised not to spend time getting distracted), I wish to warn readers that what is said about me on the Web may typically be slanderous and originate from anonymous or pseudonymous people using honeypots (compromised PCs).
“By discrediting the writer, there’s hope of robbing the message of credibility as well (lowering the degree of trust).”With the exception of the press where there is validation of identity, you are advised not to believe anything that you read about me, including articles or posts that are claimed to have come from me because there are forgers pretending to be myself (recent example here.
The reason for pointing this out is because the wave of smears have increased recently (about 30 incidents per day now). If you perform some Google searches like this one, you will soon see the motive for “shoot the messenger” strategies. By discrediting the writer, there’s hope of robbing the message of credibility as well (lowering the degree of trust). By filling the Web with slanderous remarks about a person, a pool of lies is there for one to pick up selectively. █
Update: about 5 minutes ago, another DDOS attack was launched against my personal site (which is down now). It’s the second time in 2 days, but it’s probably not related to anything I do in this site. I wouldn’t think so anyway.
André said,
March 3, 2008 at 9:48 am
Alex Brown’s site also was down yesterday.
Roy Schestowitz said,
March 3, 2008 at 9:55 am
The good news is that 20 minutes ago we brought it back up, disabled (removed) some bits and we now monitor it very closely.
Whoever does this, they knocked me offline 2 days ago and once again at 12 (ish) today. I’ve inquired to see if other sites had similar experiences. It’s the timing which I find suspicious. Never happened to me in 7 years of running sites…
If you follow the link in this post (about ‘Microsoft briberies”) and then consider the fact that 2 hours ago I made the FP with an item about Microsoft briberies in India, then maybe — just maybe — there’s cause for suspicion. That page has been viewed over a thousand times and even Stocholm, who attended the BRM (he’s a Microsoft partner), tries to deny or hide this — something that a friend of mine accused him of doing last night.
As I said, I very much doubt it has anything to do with my postings. It could be just a coincidence.
John Drinkwater said,
March 3, 2008 at 10:41 am
john@ezri64 ~| nslookup http://www.adjb.net
Server: 212.159.6.9
Address: 212.159.6.9#53
** server can’t find http://www.adjb.net: NXDOMAIN
I don’t think it’s a DDoS issue, more a DNS issue
)
(check his WHOIS for more interesting info
Dan O'Brian said,
March 4, 2008 at 11:29 am
Funny that the same could be said about you and Novell. Since you aren’t able to prove Novell to be evil, you’ve chosen to launch a smear campaign.
Those who scream the loudest are often most guilty.
Roy Schestowitz said,
March 4, 2008 at 11:45 am
Dan,
This campaign against me is very libelous, e.g. claims that I molest children, have a police record, am a transsexual, homosexual, etc. etc.
If you see cases where I make slanderous claims against Novell, please chime in and correct me.
In addition to this, I’ve had people harassing my employers and colleagues in order to pressure me to stop. And that does not even include attempts to have me sued.